When the Egypt U-20 team face the Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Wednesday, a battle of titanic proportion is in the offing.
Both badly need the match for any realistic chance of making it into the quarter finals.
While Egypt had an uninspiring goalless draw with Mozambique, the case was worse for Nigeria which lost 0-1 to Senegal and are therefore confined to the bottom of the Group A.
Anything short of full points occasioned by a win will put their dreams in jeopardy. Egypt mat still survive with another draw and hope to make up in their last game with Senegal.
That may have bouyed the confidence of their coach, Mahmoud Gaber who voiced self-assurance ahead of his side’s anticipated clash against Nigeria at the Cairo stadium on Wednesday.
“We are focusing now on Nigeria clash and will do better than against Mozambique,” Gaber told the pre-match news conference.
‘’Our target is to win tomorrow and we will do our best to achieve the target.”
“Players promised me to win against Nigeria and I am fully confident on my players.”
The Pharaohs will be desperate for win to improve their situation in the Group as they are seeking a place in the next round.
The first two teams in the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals alongside the two best performances of teams who ended third in the different groups.
The first four teams will represent the continent in the upcoming U-20 World Cup set to be played in Indonesia next May.
Egypt last participation in the U-20 World Cup date on 2013 when they were eliminated from the competition’s first round.